CJMS-AM

Michel Mathieu was awarded a licence for a new AM station at Saint-Constant on  September 28. The station would operate on 1320 kHz with a power of 5,000 watts day and 3,000 watts night. (Not to be confused with the former Montreal CJMS)

CJMS (not yet on the air) was given approval to change frequency from 1320 to 1040 kHz and to decrease night power from 3,000 to 1,100 watts. Daytime power would remain 5,000 watts.

CJMS 1040 signed on the air. For the record, the new CJMS 1040 towers were located at the site that was used by CKGM when it was on 980 kHz.

Michel Mathieu sold his 60% interest in CJMS to Communications Médialex inc. (Alexandre Azoulay).

CJMS was granted a power increase from 5,000 watts day and 1,100 watts night, to 10,000 watts day and 5,000 watts night.

The 2002 power increase was never implemented. On November 22, 2006, CJMS was again granted a power increase from 5,000 watts day and 1,100 watts night to 10,000 watts day and 5,000 watts night. 

On August 30, the CRTC renewed the licence for CJMS Saint-Constant from 1 September 2010 to 31 August 2014. This short-term renewal would allow the Commission to assess at an earlier date the licensee’s compliance with the provisions of the Radio Regulations, 1986 and its conditions of licence. In Broadcasting Notice of Consultation 2010-138, the Commission noted the licensee’s apparent failure to comply with its condition of licence concerning Canadian talent development contributions, as set out in Broadcasting Decision 2008-223. In that decision, the Commission renewed CJMS’s licence for a short-term period of two years given that it was the second time that CJMS had been found in non-compliance with the Radio Regulations, 1986 and with its condition of licence relating to CTD contributions. The Commission also imposed a condition of licence requiring the licensee to remit all outstanding amounts for CTD contributions incurred during the first licence term by 31 August 2008. Noting that the licensee had not made the required payments within the prescribed time frame, the Commission summoned the licensee to a public hearing to show cause why a mandatory order should not be issued requiring the licensee to comply with its condition of licence relating to CTD contributions. The Commission also expected the licensee to demonstrate why the Commission should not suspend, revoke or fail to renew CJMS’s licence, pursuant to sections 9 and 24 of the Broadcasting Act.

On December 11, the CRTC approved the application by Groupe Médias Pam inc. for authority to acquire the assets of the French-language commercial AM radio station CJMS Saint-Constant from 3553230 Canada inc. Given the seriousness and recurrence of the instances of non-compliance and the fact that this was the fourth consecutive licence term in which CJMS had been found in non-compliance with its regulatory requirements, the licence to be issued to Groupe Médias would be for a short term and expire on 31 August 2017. CJMS had been owned and operated by Alexandre Azoulay. The new owner was Jean Ernest Pierre who also owned CJWI 1410 Montreal.

On May 18, the CRTC renewed the licence for CJMS to August 31, 2020. This short-term renewal would allow for an earlier review of the licensee’s compliance with regulatory requirements. The Commission issued a new mandatory order requiring Groupe Médias Pam inc. to ensure that CJMS complied at all times with section 9(2) of the Radio Regulations, 1986 and reimposed existing mandatory orders. The Commission approved the application to delete CJMS’s condition of licence relating to over-and-above Canadian content development contributions.

On July 31, the CRTC denied the application to renew the licence for CJMS. The commission stated: “In light of the severity and recurrence of the current instances of non-compliance; of the station’s history of non-compliance and the licensee’s actions, which demonstrate a poor understanding of its conditions of licence and regulatory obligations, or a lack of willingness to respect them; of its inability to implement the necessary measures to ensure compliance; and of its disregard for the Commission’s authority and for its responsibilities as a broadcaster, the Commission is convinced that the imposition of conditions of licence or of mandatory orders, a suspension, or a short-term licence renewal would not be effective measures. Consequently, the Commission finds that not renewing the licence is the only appropriate measure in the circumstances.” The station was ordered to cease broadcasting by August 31 and the commission invited interested parties to apply for a broadcast licence in the market.

On December 22, CJMS left the air for good. After the CRTC revoked the station’s licence in August, CJMS had remained on the air awaiting the results of a court appeal. A three judge panel of the Federal Court of Appeal dismissed the CJMS application to overturn the CRTC decision and keep the station on the air.